Slidable bolt catch

ABSTRACT

A catch for mounting on a swingable door including a support with a slidable bolt mounted within a chamber for movement between projected and retracted positions and urged toward the projected position by a spring. Two prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to the bolt snap into a pair of elongated recesses in the chamber walls to prevent the bolt from sliding past its projected position. Flanges extending from the walls and into the chamber fit in corresponding grooves formed integrally in the bolt to guide the latter as it moves between its projected and retracted positions.

United States Patent Bingham June 20, 1972 [54] SLIDABLE BOLT CATCH 1,601,482 9/1926 Sutherland ..292/145 1 1 1 N.

[72] nven or Bruce Bingham, Rockford, Ill Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig Jr [73] Assignee: Amerock Corporation, Rockford, Ill. Attomey-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

22 F] d: Dec. 11 1970 i l 1 e 1 57 ABSTRACT {21] Appl. No.: 97,074

' A catch for mounting on a swmgable door including a support with a slidable bolt mounted within a chamber for movement [52] US. Cl ..292/175, 292/DIG. 30, 292/DIG. 38, between projected d nd positions nd urged toward 292/DIG- 64 the projected position by a spring. Two prongs formed in- [5 l IIIL Cl- ..Eosc 1/10 t ll ith and resiliently hinged to the bolt Snap into a pair [58] FiBld 0f Search ..292/175, 145, 75, 74, DIG. 30, of elongated recesses in the chamber walls to prevent h bolt 292/DIG' 64 from sliding past its projected position. Flanges extending from the walls and into the chamber fit in corresponding [56] References cued grooves formed integrally in the bolt to guide the latter as it UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 moves between its projected and retracted positions.

[90,074 4/1877 Penfield ..292/ 175 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SLIDABLE BOLT CATCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a catch with a sliding bolt which is mounted for movement between projected and retracted positions within a chamber and, more particularly, to a latch in which the bolt is normally urged toward the projected position by a spring acting between the bolt and a wall of the chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved catch of the foregoing general character which is simpler, less expensive, and more easily assembled than prior catches of the same general type. A related object is to achieve the foregoing through the provision of a bolt of unitary construction adapted to be snapped into and automatically captivated within the chamber.

A more detailed object is to provide the bolt with integrally formed resilient members which clip the bolt .within the chamber and hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past the projected position.

The invention also resides in the comparatively simple construction of the bolt as a one piece unitary assembly, the simple construction of the chamber, and the coaction between the bolt and chamber to captivate and guide the bolt in the chamber and to hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a catch mountable on a closure member such as a cabinet door 11 and operable to latch the door in a closed position (FIG. I). In the present instance, a bolt 12 mounted within a support or handle 14 connected to the door slides between projected and retracted positions to positively hold the door shirt by interlocking with a strike 15 fixed to the cabinet adjacent the closed position of the door.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the handle I4 is generally U-shaped and is formed with depending bosses l7 and 19 which fit within countersunk portions of holes 20 extending through the door 11. Screws 21 extend through the holes and are threadably received in the bosses to mount the handle with its base flush against the outer surface of the door.

As shown in FIG. 3, a forwardly opening chamber 23 is formed at the front end of the handle and slidably receives the bolt 12. The latter herein is molded of plastic, is shaped generally as a block and is sized to fit into the chamber. A coil spring 24 is fitted into a hole 25 opening out of the rear end of the bolt and is compressed against the opposing wall of the chamber to urge the bolt forwardly toward its projected position and to hold the bolt yieldably in such a position.

To effect the interlocking action of the bolt 12 and the strike 15, the front end of the bolt includes an abutment surface 26 and a cam surface 27. The latter is inclined outwardly and forwardly of the chamber Opening, as shown in FIG. 2, and merges at its upper terminus with the forward end of the abutment surface which extends forwardly from the front end that the abutment surface 26 latches within the strike 15 to latch the door. To release the door 1 1 from its closed position, an exposed portion of the bolt defines a slanted thumb surface 29 which is located rearwardly of the abutment surface 26 (FIG. 2) and which may be pushed manually to slide the bolt rearwardly into its released position.

In accordance with the present invention, the construction of the catch 10 is simplified and assembly of its components is facilitated by forming the bolt 12 as a one-piece unit which may be simply snapped into the chamber 23 and which, automatically as an incident thereto, coacts with the chamber in a novel manner not only to guide the bolt for sliding between its retracted and projected positions but also to prevent the bolt from being slid forwardly past its projected position by the biasing force exerted by the spring 24. As a result, there is no need to employ separate elements for guiding and restraining the bolt and, in addition, the bolt and the handle 14 may .be assembled quickly and easily.

More specifically, the chamber 23 is generally L-shaped and is formed with an open lower side 30 and open front end portions 31 and 33 as shown in FIG. 3, the sides of the chamber being defined by generally parallel retainer walls 34. As viewed in FIG. 3, the top inside edge 35 of each retainer wall includes an inwardly projecting and generally rectangular flange 36 paralleling the path of sliding of the bolt and guiding the bolt for movement between its projected and retracted positions. A generally rectangular recess or indentation 37 molded in the inner side of each retainer wall extends forwardly from the backend of that wall and terminates at a point spaced from the open front end 31 of the chamber. The forward edge of the indentation defines a shoulder 39 which acts as a catch to limit the forward motion of the bolt as it slides into its projected position. I

As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bolt 12 includes a lower base 40, a rear wall 41 extending normal to the base, and spaced parallel side walls 43 also extending normal to the base. The distance between the side walls is less than the width of the opening 31, allowing the bolt to fit within the chamber 23. A portion of the base includes a pair of resiliently hinged prongs 44 formed by molding a T-shaped slot 45 in the bolt,

the slot extending forwardly from the rear wall so that the upper portion of the slot extends through both side walls (see FIG. 4). The slot extends generally parallel to the base and terminates in the central portion of the bolt.

The free end 46 of each prong 44 includes a lug 47 projecting toward the inside of the closest retainer wall 34. When the prongs are relaxed, the tip ends of the lugs are separated from one another a distance greater than the width of the opening 31 so that they clip within the indentation 37 (FIG. 4) and hold the bolt 12 from sliding beyond its projected position. Rectangular grooves 49 spaced above the T-slot and formed along each side wall 43 of the bolt are sized to fit around the flanges 36 on the retainer walls and coact therewith to captivate the bolt against vertical movement within the chamber and to guide the bolt as it slides between its projected and retracted positions. Thus, it is seen that the bolt is a unitary piece with integrally formed prongs 44 and grooves 49 which coact with the chamber to hold the bolt and handle together as an assembly.

To hold the bolt 12 against sliding forwardly past its projected position, each lug. 47 includes a catching wall 50 and a cam surface 51 (FIG. 3). The latter extends generally perpen dicular to the base 40 of the bolt in a plane angled rearwardly toward the rear wall 41 and intersecting the plane of the other cam surface at a point spaced rearwardly of the rear wall (see FIG. 3). The back edge of the cam surface merges with the rear wall of the bolt while the front edge of the cam surface merges with the tip edge 53 of the catching wall 50. The latter is formed integrally with and extends perpendicular from its prong 44 toward the closest retainer wall 34 when the bolt is mounted within the chamber 23.

As the bolt 12 is initially pushed into the chamber 23, the cam surfaces 51 engage the inside surfaces 35 of the retainer walls 34 thereby causing the prongs 44 to flex towards each other. Then, as the bolt is slid further in a rearward direction, the loaded prongs snap outwardly into the indentation 37. During normal latching, the lugs slide back and forth in the indentations with the catching walls 50 abutting the shoulders 39 (FIG. 4) on the forward stroke to hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel catch wherein the bolt 12 is held from sliding forwardly of its projected position by integrally formed prongs 44 catching against shoulders 39 formed in the walls of the chamber 23. Also, the flanges 36 and the grooves 49 coact to guide and captivate the bolt. The present invention thus simplifies the assembly of the catch and eliminates parts which were heretofore necessary in order to retain the bolt within the chamber.

lclaim: v

1. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed at one end portion thereof and opening out of said one end, a bolt mounted within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of said bolt extending forwardly out of the open end of said chamber when the bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt, means within said chamber for receiving said prongs with a snap-fit and engageable with said prongs to hold said bolt within said chamber and to prevent the bolt from sliding forwardly past said projected position, guide means formed integrally with said bolt, complementary guide means formed integrally with. said support within said chamber and coacting with said first guide means to hold the bolt for movement along said path between the projected and retracted positions, a lug projecting from the free end of each prong toward the adjacent inside wall, of said chamber, said means for engaging and receiving said prongs including shoul ders on the inside wallsof said chamber and each defined by the forward edge of an elongated recess formed in the inside wall and extending lengthwise of said path, each lug camming against the forward end of said support and the adjacent inside wall of said chamber as the bolt initially is inserted therein and thereafter snapping into said recess into position to catch against the respective shoulder and hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position, and a T-shaped slot formed in said bolt, said slot having a cross bar portion and a stem portion, said slot extending forwardly from the rear wall of said bolt and terminating in the central of the bolt, the cross bar portion of said slot extending through the side walls of said bolt and the stem portion extending through the base of said 1 bolt, said prongs being located immediately below said cross bar portion and immediately adjacent opposite sides of said stem portion.

2. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed at one end thereof and opening forwardly of said end, said chamber being defined in part by a pair of retainer walls spaced apart a predetermined distance, a bolt having side walls and mounted within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of said bolt extending forwardly out of said chamber opening when the bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, a pair of prongs each formed integrally with and resiliently hinged at one end of to one of the side walls, a lug projecting from the free end of each of said prongs toward said retainer walls, the tip ends of said lugs being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between said retainer walls when the prongs are resiliently unstressed and being operable to engage said retainer walls and cam said prongs toward each other as said bolt is initially inserted into said chamber, each of said retainer walls being formed with an elongated slot defining a shoulder on the retainer wall, said lugs snapping within said slots as said bolt is inserted a predetermined distance into said chamber and normally catching against said shoulders to hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position within said chamber, and a pair of flanges each formed integrally with one of said retainer walls and projecting into said chamber, said flanges extending parallel to said path and fitting within grooves formed in the side walls of said bolt to guide said bolt along said path between said projected and retracted positions.

3. A catch comprising a support with a chamber of predetermined width formed therein and opening outwardly of one end thereof, shoulders formed intermediate the ends of the chamber in opposite walls thereof, a bolt mounted to slide within said chamber between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of the bolt extending out the chamber beyond the one end of the support when said bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between the support and the bolt to yieldably urge the latter into said projected position, prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt along opposite sides thereof, a lug projecting from the free end of each prong toward the adjacent wall of the chamber, the tips of said lugs being spaced from each other a distance greater than the width of said chamber when said prongs are unstressed, cam surfaces on the lugs and engageable with said walls to cam said prongs toward each other as said bolt initially is inserted into said chamber, said prongs springing apart as the tips of said lugs move past said shoulders thereby to snap said lugs into position for abutment with said shoulders to keep the bolt from sliding forwardly beyond its projected position.

4. A catch as defined in claim 3 wherein the walls of said chamber are formed with elongated recesses extending partially therethrough to receive the tips of said lugs, said shoulders being defined by the outer edges of said recesses.

5. A catch defined in claim 3 including flanges formed in tegrally with said walls, said flanges extending parallel to the path of movement of said bolt and projecting toward each other, and grooves formed in the sides of said bolt to receive said flanges thereby to guide said bolt for movement between said projected and retracted position.

6. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed therein and opening outwardly of one end thereof, a shoulder on the inside wall of said chamber and defined by the forward edge of an elongated recess formed partially through said wall, a bolt mountable within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, a prong of resilient material formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt, a lug projecting from g the free end of the prong toward the inside wall of the chamber to cam against said wall to flex said prong away from the wall as the bolt initially is inserted into said chamber, said prong thereafter snapping said lug into said recess to position the lug to catch against the shoulder and hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past said projected position, and groove and flange means on the side of said bolt and on said support and coating with each other to hold the bolt for movement along said path between the projected and retracted positions.

7. A catch as defined in claim 6 wherein said groove and flange means includes a groove formed in one side of said bolt and extending parallel to said path, and a flange formed adjacent the inside wall of said chamber and also extending parallel to said path, said flange fitting slidably within said groove to guide said bolt for movement along said path between said projected and retracted positions. 

1. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed at one end portion thereof and opening out of said one end, a bolt mounted within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of said bolt extending forwardly out of the open end of said chamber when the bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt, means within said chamber for receiving said prongs with a snap-fit and engageable with said prongs to hold said bolt within said chamber and to prevent the bolt from sliding forwardly past said projected position, guide means formed integrally with said bolt, complementary guide means formed integrally with said support within said chamber and coacting with said first guide means to hold the bolt for movement along said path between the projected and retracted positions, a lug projecting from the free end of each prong toward the adjacent inside wall of said chamber, said means for engaging and receiving said prongs including shoulders on the inside walls of said chamber and each defined by the forward edge of an elongated recess formed in the inside wall and extending lengthwise of said path, each lug camming against the forward end of said support and the adjacent inside wall of said chamber as the bolt initially is inserted therein and thereafter snapping into said recess into position to catch against the respective shoulder and hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position, and a T-shaped slot formed in said bolt, said slot having a cross bar portion and a stem portion, said slot extending forwardly from the rear wall of said bolt and terminating in the central of the bolt, the cross bar portion of said slot extending through the side walls of said bolt and the stem portion extending through the base of said bolt, said prongs being located immediately below said cross bar portion and immediately adjacent opposite sides of said stem portion.
 2. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed at one end thereof and opening forwardly of said end, said chamber being defined in part by a pair of retainer walls spaced apart a predetermined distance, a bolt having side walls and mounted within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of said bolt extending forwardly out of said chamber opening when the bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, a pair of prongs each formed integrally with and resiliently hinged at one end of to one of the side walls, a lug projecting from the free end of each of said prongs toward said retainer walls, the tip ends of said lugs being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between said retainer walls when the prongs are resiliently unstressed and being operable to engage said retainer walls and cam said prongs toward each other as said bolt is initially inserted into said chamber, each of said retainer walls being formed with an elongated slot defining a shoulder on the retainer wall, said lugs snapping within said slots as said bolt is inserted a predetermined distance into said chamber and normally catching against said shoulders to hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position within said chamber, and a pair of flanges each formed integrally with one of said retainer walls and projecting into said chamber, said flanges extending parallel to said path and fitting within grooves formed in the side walls of said bolt to guide said bolt along said path between said projected and retracted positions.
 3. A catch comprising a support with a chamber of predetermined width formed therein and opening outwardly of one end thereof, shoulders formed intermediate the ends of the chamber in opposite walls thereof, a bolt mounted to slide within said chamber between a retracted position and a projected position, the latching end of the bolt extending out the chamber beyond the one end of the support when said bolt is in said projected position, a spring acting between the support and the bolt to yieldably urge the latter into said projected position, prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt along opposite sides thereof, a lug projecting from the free end of each prong toward the adjacent wall of the chamber, the tips of said lugs being spaced from each other a distance greater than the width of said chamber when said prongs are unstressed, cam surfaces on the lugs and engageable with said walls to cam said prongs toward each other as said bolt initially is inserted into said chamber, said prongs springing apart as the tips of said lugs move past said shoulders thereby to snap said lugs into position for abutment with said shoulders to keep the bolt from sliding forwardly beyond its projected position.
 4. A catch as defined in claim 3 wherein the walls of said chamber are formed with elongated recesses extending partially therethrough to receive the tips of said lugs, said shoulders being defined by the outer edges of said recesses.
 5. A catch defined in claim 3 including flanges formed integrally with said walls, said flanges extending parallel to the path of movement of said bolt and projecting toward each other, and grooves formed in the sides of said bolt to receive said flanges thereby to guiDe said bolt for movement between said projected and retracted position.
 6. A catch comprising a support having a chamber formed therein and opening outwardly of one end thereof, a shoulder on the inside wall of said chamber and defined by the forward edge of an elongated recess formed partially through said wall, a bolt mountable within said chamber to slide along a predetermined path between a retracted position and a projected position, a spring acting between said support and said bolt and yieldably urging the latter forwardly toward said projected position, a prong of resilient material formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to said bolt, a lug projecting from the free end of the prong toward the inside wall of the chamber to cam against said wall to flex said prong away from the wall as the bolt initially is inserted into said chamber, said prong thereafter snapping said lug into said recess to position the lug to catch against the shoulder and hold said bolt from sliding forwardly past said projected position, and groove and flange means on the side of said bolt and on said support and coating with each other to hold the bolt for movement along said path between the projected and retracted positions.
 7. A catch as defined in claim 6 wherein said groove and flange means includes a groove formed in one side of said bolt and extending parallel to said path, and a flange formed adjacent the inside wall of said chamber and also extending parallel to said path, said flange fitting slidably within said groove to guide said bolt for movement along said path between said projected and retracted positions. 